Govt dismisses 'mark of the beast' conspiracies over e-IDs

Government has dismissed concerns related to new electronic identity cards (e-IDs), saying the embedded microchip is the same technology used in bank cards and electronic passports.

The e-ID is a smart card equipped with a microchip that securely stores both biometric and demographic data, aimed at reducing fraud and enhancing the efficiency of e-government services.

The home affairs ministry is preparing to launch the new e-IDs in September alongside public awareness campaigns.

Speaking on NBC's Talk of the Nation on Monday, Oscar Muhapi, the director of national civil registration at the ministry, dismissed conspiracy theories linking the electronic IDs to the biblical “mark of the beast”.

"It is not the mark of the beast. The chips are going onto the ID, not in your body," Muhapi said.

He explained that the chip is embedded inside the identity card beneath the coat of arms.

For example, banks will be able to authenticate a customer's identity by matching a fingerprint placed on a scanner with the biometric information stored on the card's chip.

Muhapi said the modern IDs will remain physical cards but will now expire after 10 years, similar to passports, allowing government to keep citizens' photographs and personal information up-to-date.

One card

Meanwhile, Office of the Prime Minister solution architecture director Dr Stefanus van Staden said the e-IDs form part of Namibia's broader digital public infrastructure and are designed to allow citizens to access multiple services using a single digital identity.

"We refer to this as identity federation. So really, it's one credential for all," Van Staden said.

He said the system creates a standardised identity dataset that can be used across government institutions and eventually by the private sector.

Van Staden said the electronic IDs introduce a unique digital identifier that is separate from a person's biographical details or existing identity number.

The identifier is intended to solve challenges where individuals may have multiple identity records, for example, after lawfully changing their date of birth and receiving a new identity number.

Tight security

He said the system has been developed with several security measures, including encryption, multiple data protection layers and secure off-site backups to reduce the impact of cyberattacks or data loss.

Smart IDs are expected to stimulate innovation by allowing businesses and government to develop digital services that no longer rely on manual verification of physical documents.

CRAN technology manager Kristof Ithana said Namibia's expanding telecommunications infrastructure provides a solid foundation for the nationwide implementation of electronic IDs.

However, he acknowledged that connectivity remains a challenge in some remote and underserved areas.

Namibia joins a growing number of African countries, including South Africa, Botswana, Ghana, Rwanda and Nigeria, that have adopted e-IDs as part of efforts to modernise identity management, improve access to public services and support digital economies.

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